Page 12 of The Reluctant Roommate

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.” She rose and picked her spare key from its hook and held the ring out to Heidi. “This does all doors. I keep the house locked, even when I’m home—I’m often working on my computer.”

Heidi nodded and pocketed the key. “Thanks, Morgan. This will be great, I’m sure of it.” She flashed a smile as she padded to the front door to slip into her Nikes. She bent to tie the laces, then shrugged into her jacket. It didn’t look very warm.

“See you tomorrow.”

And she was gone.

Morgan blew out a breath. So she had a roommate. This would be…interesting.

Chapter 8

Vegemite Toast Covers All Essential Food Groups

Heidi sat on her bunk, her possessions repacked into her backpack, ready to shift to Morgan’s place the next day. Her cell phone rested against the wall in front of her. On the screen, her sister Fiona had her phone propped up on the kitchen bench, and she moved in and out of camera range as she prepared sandwiches.

“I don’t know why I’m bothering with this,” Fiona said. “Teenage drama has kicked in big time, and Iza is a bloody horror these days. Most of the time, she doesn’t eat what I prepare. Pushes it aside and eats another half loaf of Vegemite toast.”

“Then don’t bother,” Heidi said. “Iza’s seeing how far she can push you. Let her get her own lunch.”

“And have her die of malnutrition? Vegemite toast, however good it tastes, isn’t high on the healthy-eating charts.”

“I wouldn’t know anymore. I can’t get it over here.”

“Once you have an address, I’ll send you a jar,” Fiona said.

“I have an address. Hang on.” Heidi dug into the pocket of her jeans until she found the scrap of paper where she’d written her new address and read it out.

“Got it. I’ll post the Vegemite later today. So, what’s the deal with the new place?”

“I’ll be sharing with one woman—Morgan. The house is really comfortable. High-end furniture and fittings. Gorgeous in a rather sterile way. No mess. Not much personality showing.”

“Maybe she cleaned up before you came around?”

“I don’t think so. It just doesn’t looklived in. I don’t think she cooks—and the kitchen is amazing. I told her I’m neat and tidy. Quiet too.”

Fiona whistled. “That’s a lot to live up to. Because you’re not exactly either.”

“I’m not the worst, and I can be house-trained. Surely it’s not that hard?”

Fiona picked up her phone and panned the camera around her kitchen. Groceries littered the counter, an empty container of milk lay on its side, and the dishwasher stood open, half full of dirty dishes. “Tell that to my bloody daughter. This wasHome Beautifulthis morning.” She crunched a carrot stick. “What’s Morgan like as a person? She must have some vices. Everyone does—unless they’re not actually human.”

“I haven’t seen any yet. So far, she’s polite, rather formal. Worried I’m going to have a different hookup each night and bring them back to her house—which I won’t do, of course.”

“The hookups or bring them home?”

“Either right now. The Serena Experience has scarred me, but that will heal. After all, I’ve got no money left for anyone to steal.”

“They could kidnap you and force you to work in one of those scammer warehouses where people are made to play out romance scenarios. Maybe we need a code word. If you use it with me, I’ll call the FBI.”

“If I ever tell you about a gorgeous dress I’ve just bought—”

Fi laughed. “I’ll definitely call the FBI. Now, tell me how I’m going to survive the rest of the holidays with Iza mooching around and complaining she’s bored and why don’t we live in the city where she’d have, like,a life. Those are her words.”

“Maybe she’d like to stay with Mom and Dad for a couple of days?” Heidi sucked at her upper lip. Fiona had it tough being asingle parent of a difficult seventeen-year-old, but their parents, in their offhand way, would barely notice Iza’s presence in their house. This could be a good thing or a bad thing.

“She’d totally run off the rails then. Our parents never exactly raised us…more threw food at us like we were pound puppies. Iza could build a bomb in the garden shed and I doubt they’d notice.”

“I constructed a still in my bedroom when I was seventeen, and they didn’t notice that for months,” Heidi said. “It was only when it leaked and went through the floor to the dining room that they thought to look.”